Graham Fischer
THE 2021 DF & E Kemp & Son Gawler Cup over 2550m will be a mobile start event this year, changing from its usual standing start, when the horses start their two laps around the Gawler Harness Racing Club track on March 7.
Last year’s edition saw Grey Maverick run his rivals ragged, leading by as much as 20 metres for much of the race before scoring by 6.9 metres for trainer Dominic Tattoli and driver Brodie Webster.
Runner up was Bettorhavtime, trained by Heather Stevens and driven by Wayne Hill, with Stevens confirming Bettorhavtime would be back this year to go one better.
“He has had a couple of runs back from a break and should be at peak fitness for the cup,” Stevens said.
Wayne Hill will again drive, and there should be great sibling rivalry with sister Danielle in the sulky of the ever-improving Joes A Character, which is trained at Willaston by Yvette Zitterbart.
Joes A Character is a winner of 17 of his 35 starts, including his last-start where he took out the Italian Cup at Globe Derby Park.
The race will be a random barrier draw, so there will be great interest when acceptances are taken today.
The other feature races on the card include the Rivergum Lodge Gawler Derby (2070m) and the Podiatry Care Gawler Hambletonian Trotters Cup over 2250m, which is a standing start event.
Last year’s Hambletonian event went to Godofthunder, trained across the road by Aaron Bain and driven by Alex Ashwood.
The trotting races made for wonderful spectacles, with the best runners off back handicaps giving starts to their rivals.
One of the top local hopes this year will be the in-form Millys Magic, trained at Wasleys by Claire Goble.